Capparum, Capers

Classical western names include: cynosbaton, capria, coracos melon, ophioscordon, ophiostaphylon, petraia, holophyton, aeichloron, hippomanes, trichomanes
Karira, Apatra (Ayurveda)
Ahimsra (Wild Caper) (Ayurveda)
Kabar, Kabar-ul-Hindi (Unani)
Chengan (Siddha)
Lao Shu Gua (TCM)
Picture Picture
Gart der Gesundheit, Cuba, 1485

 Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
Picture Flora von Deutschland (14), Kohler, 1883

Botanical name:


Capparis spinosa
The Wild Caper, C. sepiaria is also used in India.
Round and Pointed Leaf varieties were known

Parts used:


Root-bark; Caper fruit are mostly used as food
“The root bark is its most useful part”. (Avicenna)

Temperature & Taste:


Warm, dry. Pungent, Bitter, Sour
“Hot and dry in the second degree” (Avicenna)

Classifications:


2B. ATTENUATERS.  2C INCIDERS   2F. PURIFYING    2J. RAREFYING    2K. RESOLVENT
4f. SPLENETIC
 Picture Capers, Lustgarten der Gesundtheit, Ryff, 1546

Uses:


1. Clears Phlegm, Moves the Blood, Resolves Swelling:
-all types of Phlegm swellings such as Scrofula, Fibroids;
-Swelling or hardness of the Liver or Spleen; Cirrhosis
-Cancers of the Abdomen, Spleen, Bladder, Colon, Groin, Uterus, Kidney, Liver, Head and Neck
-“Its root dissolves Scrofula and other hard swellings” (Avicenna)

2. Clears Damp, Opens Obstructions, Resists Melancholy:
-pain, swelling and hardness of the Spleen
–Dioscorides recommended 2 drams of the fruit daily for 30 days to reduce the Spleen.
-Melancholy and Spleen obstruction
-Hypochondriac Melancholy
-“the most beneficial drug to be used in hardness of the Spleen” (Avicenna)
-“In most cases the thick Melancholic matters of the Spleen are evacuated following its use and thus the patient is relieved.” (Avicenna)

3. Clears Wind-Damp, Promotes Urine, Eases Pain:
-acute and chronic Arthritis and Rheumatic Arthritis (TCM); Rheumatism (Salmon); Sciatica
-Paralysis and Numbness
-Edema, fluid retention
-“Useful in Sciatica and Coxalgia” (Avicenna)
-“Useful in Paralysis, loss of local Sensation and Tetanus” (Avicenna)

4. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation, Relieves Pain:
-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea
-Infertility.
-“Increases Sexual desire” (Avicenna)

5. Resists Poison:
-“It acts as an antidote against Poison” (Avicenna)

6. Kills Worms
-“Kills Intestinal Round-worm” (Avicenna)

7. Externally:
-applied topically to Swellings, Skin Eruptions
-applied to Ringworm, Vitiligo (bruised root-bark)
-bruised root-bark is applied over malignant sores, indolent Ulcers.
-“Application of root bark proves to be extremely useful for treating putrefied and malignant wounds” (Avicenna)
-fruit decocted in vinegar and used as a mouthwash for Toothache (Dioscorides)
-“Biting the root-bark relieves toothache”. (Avicenna)
-extract dropped into the Ears relieves Earache
-“Chewing of its root-bark absorbs ‘moistness’ from the Head and relieves cold Headache” (Avicenna)


Dose:


Decoction: 3–6 grams, up to 9 grams
Powder: 1–3 grams

Comment:


Dioscorides said the root and fruit could be used similarly.

Corrective:


Oxymel; Aniseed; Honey (Unani)

Substitute:


i. Tamarisk bark; Tamarisk root (Galen)
ii. Poplar bark;
iii. Elder bark;
iv. Bayberry (Myrica) bark;
v. Heath root (Galen)
vi. Gentian;
vii. Arum indicum is considered a substitute for Ahimsra (Wild Caper) in Ayurveda.

Main Combinations:


1. Melancholy and Dampness of the Spleen, Caper root bark with Chicory, Rosemary, Hops, Fumitory, Borage, Dodder, Thyme, Senna, Prunes, prepared as a Syrup (Wirtzung)
2. Hardness of the Spleen:
i. without Fever, Caper root bark with Orris, Fennel root, Maidenhair, Cyperus, Rosemary, Dodder, Asarum, Licorice, Currants (Wirtzung)
ii. decoct Caper root bark with Wormwood, add Oxymel and apply topically
3. Liver disease, Viral Hepatitis, Alcoholic Liver Disease, early Cirrhosis, Caper root bark, Chicory
4. Dysuria from atony, Caper root-bark, Ash tree bark, Tamarisk bark, St. johns wort, steeped in red wine.
5. Oil of Capers, for Hardness, Pain and Swelling of the Spleen, Caper root bark with Tamarisk rind, Agnus Castus, Rue, decocted in Oil with Vinegar
6. Spleen Hardness, make a plaster with Barley flour (Avicenna)
7. Fomentation for Hemorrhoids: Caper root-bark, Linseed, Henbane herb, Yarrow, Mullein (Dispensatorium medico pharmaceuticum Palatinatus, 1764)

Major Formulas


Troches of Capers Root-bark (Mesue)
Troches of Capers Root-bark (Unani)
Troches of Gum Lacca (Trochisci de Lacca) (Mesue)
Troches for Melancholy (Nicholas)
Syrup to Purge all Humors of Frankfurt
Pills to Crumble Kidney Stones (Unani)
Antidotum Haemagogum (Nicholas)
Electuary of Horehound (Diaprassium)
Plaster for Hard Tumors of the Uterus

1. Caper Oil:
i. Preserved Capers, Caper root-bark (4 ½ oz. each), Olive oil (1 ½ oz.), Vinegar (6 oz.). Boil until the liquid has evaporated. (Pharmacopoeia Sardoa, 1773)
ii. Preserved Capers (8 oz.), Caper root-bark (2 oz.), Cypress bark (1 oz), fresh Rue (2 oz.), Olive oil (3 lbs.), White Wine (6 oz.). Digest 3 days, boil to evaporated all liquid, strain. (Pharmacopoeia Hispana, 1798)
iii. Caper root-bark (1 oz.), Tamarisk bark, Cypress bark (2 drams each), Spleenwort, Rue (1 dram each), Agnus Castus seed (2 drams), White Wine (6 oz.). Infuse 2 days, add Olive oil (12 ounces), and boil to evaporated all liquid, strain. (Pharmacopoeia Generalis, 1783)

Cautions:


1. ‘It disturbs the belly, it is bad for the stomach, and it is thirst making, but when eaten boiled, it is more wholesome than raw.’ (Dioscorides)
2. Avoid in Yin deficiency.

Main Preparations used:


Compound Oil of Capers, Troches of Capers, Extract of the Root Bark
  • Extra Info
  • History
‘This plant is widely distributed, being found in Afghanistan, West Asia, Europe, North Africa, Australia, and the Sandwich Islands. The common Indian and Oriental form, Var. 3 of Hooker’s Indian Flora, grows on the Mahableshwar Hills. Caper bark does not appear to have been known as a medicine to the Hindus until introduced by the Mahometans, but another species of Capparis, C. aphylla, very common in India, and having somewhat similar properties, has a Sanskrit name (Karfra), and its berries are used by the natives. Capparis is mentioned by both Greek and Latin writers, and its medicinal properties were probably made known to the Arabs through them. The Syrian name is Kabar and the Turkish Kabarish; in Persia it is called Kabar and Kiirak.
The author of the Makhzan-el-Adwiya gives a good description of the plant, and says that the root bark is the most active part, and generally used. He considers it to be hot and dry, and to act as a detergent and astringent, expelling cold humors; it is therefore recommended in palsy, dropsy, and gouty and rheumatic affections; the juice of the fresh plant is directed to be dropped into the ear to kill worms, just as Cleome juice is used in India; all parts of the plant are said to have a stimulating and astringent effect when applied externally. Ainslie mentions the drug as an imported article, and notices its use as an external application to malignant ulcers.’ (Vegetable Materia Medica of Western India, Dymock, 1885)